Zimpapers Logo

Mashudu Netsianda, [email protected]

FOR years, the community of Kasibo in Ward 9 of Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province, struggled to sustain livelihoods due to erratic rainfall and dwindling agricultural productivity worsened by the El-Nino-induced drought.

However, the recent adoption of a wetland conservation project has transformed lives, enabling villagers to thrive through horticulture, orchard farming, and beekeeping.

Situated about 30km from Hwange Town near the Deka River, Kasibo’s 2-hectare wetland had long been underutilised. However, through a community-driven initiative supported by the Government through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (Ardas), Hwange Rural District Council, and development partners such as World Food Programme (WFP) and World Vision, the wetland has become a direct source of sustenance and income for 40 households in Ward 9.

The project has led to the establishment of two weirs, which are critical during drought season. A 2-hectare garden has been created, significantly improving the livelihoods of the local community.

El-Nino drought

Ms Juliet Nyoni, chairperson of the Kasibo Garden, recalled how villagers mobilised to save the wetland from destruction and sought assistance from EMA and its partners.

“With the intervention of EMA, World Vision, and the World Food Programme, the wetland was fenced off, and it slowly started regenerating. The weir then filled with water during the rainy season, and from there, we started farming,” she said.
Ms Senzeni Ngwenya, a beneficiary, expressed joy at how the project has changed her family’s fortunes.

“We used to struggle to put food on the table because our traditional farming methods were failing due to climate change. But now, I grow vegetables year-round and even supply some to local markets and schools. This project has given us financial independence,” she said.

The horticulture project includes growing cabbages, butternuts, sugar beans, tomatoes, onions, and leafy greens. It has provided food security and economic empowerment, particularly for women and youths in the village. The project also features an orchard with citrus fruits, various indigenous fruit trees, mangoes, and guavas.

Ms Ngwenya noted that despite the El Nino-induced drought during the 2023-24 farming season, they still managed to produce crops.

Miss Sandra Tshuma, a youth involved in horticulture farming, said the project has not only provided employment but has also equipped them with valuable agricultural skills.

“We never thought we could make a living out of wetlands, but after receiving training on wetland conservation and sustainable farming, we are now making money from selling our produce. This wetland has given us hope for the future,” he said.
“Right now, we have just harvested butternuts, which we are already taking to the market. We are now able to pay school fees and buy food and clothes through this project, and we are grateful to the Government and all its partners.”
Ms Clara Sigauda (64), a widow, said the wetland project has transformed her life since it was launched a few years ago.

“I am one of the founding members of this wetland project, which we started in 2017 through the assistance of the Government and its partners. We are a group of 40 farmers, comprising 31 women and nine men,” she said.

Ms Sithabile Ncube, a mother of four, said: “This project has helped me raise money to pay school fees. Two of my children are in secondary school and because of this project, I no longer struggle to raise their fees.”

Ms Teckar Nzombe said the proceeds from the gardening projects help her foot her medical bills and transport to hospital.
Another major component of the project is beekeeping, which has become a lucrative venture for many villagers. The community produces honey that is sold locally.

Mr Bernard Ndlovu, one of the bee-keepers, said the project has changed his life.
“We used to rely on unpredictable rains, but now I earn a stable income from selling honey. This has helped me pay school fees for my children and take care of other household needs,” he said.

Chief Whange said the wetland project is not only an economic lifeline but also a conservation effort.
“We have been taught the importance of protecting wetlands. Unlike before when people would degrade the area through unsustainable practices, we now understand that wetlands play a critical role in water conservation and biodiversity,” he said.

“With more households joining, the community is well on its way to becoming a hub of sustainable agriculture and conservation. What was once an overlooked wetland has now become the backbone of Kasibo’s self-reliance.”
Chief Whange said the wetland was discovered by locals in 1965.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA)

Environmental Management Agency (EMA)’s environmental management services director, Mr Steady Kangata said such initiatives align with national food security goals and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is a model project that other communities should emulate. It not only empowers villagers economically but also contributes to the preservation of wetlands, which are important because of the ecological goods and services that the soil provides,” he said.

“In the event of climatic shock or drought, wetlands help in water provision. Due to their spongy-like characteristics, wetlands help control floods, and they are a good source of food in terms of floral and faunal species.”
Mr Katanga commended the community for taking an active role in sustainable development

“As EMA, we collaborated with other stakeholders and the local community to protect the Kasibo integrated wetland project, which is now benefiting local communities. It is of immense environmental value encompassing a wide variety of habitats that support a diverse flora and fauna,” he said.

In addition to the environmental strategies, the community has drawn indigenous knowledge systems to protect and sustain the wetland.

The wetland is playing a vital role in addressing some of the SDGs which include zero hunger, accessibility to clean water, and rural development.
The Kasibo integrated wetland project is part of the African Green Stimulus Programme (AGSP), an innovative Africa Union-

led initiative to support the continent’s longer-term sustainable development objectives.
The AGSP was adopted by African Environment Ministers at the 8th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in December 2020 and by African Heads of State at the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in February 2022.

Zimbabwe has been making strides in wetland preservation through legislative frameworks such as the Environmental Management Act, which protects wetlands from degradation. Various measures that the Government has implemented to enhance wetland conservation include increasing the area under sustainable wetland management in alignment with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the Wetland Rehabilitation Rolling Plan (2021-2025), and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP),

The National Wetlands Policy and the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) serve as key legal frameworks guiding wetland protection efforts. —@mashnets